Cream can rack and strainer support



WITNESS April 1937- H. J. GRIFFITHS 2,078,135

CREAM CAN RACK AND STRAINER SUPPORT Filed Feb. 21, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES ATET OFFICE.

CREAM CAN BACK AND STRAINER SUPPORT 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cream can racks and strainer supports and has for an object to provide a novel device of this character for use in cream stations or creameries to rack cans in inverted position in vertical stacks or to be used on individual cans in upright position to support a strainer.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be easy to clean, which will 10 take up small storage space, which will be sanitary, light in weight, strong and durable, and

which will not easily get out of order under severe conditions of service.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without 20 departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cream can rack and strainer support constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of two inverted cream cans stacked vertically by means of a pair of the devices shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a cream can in upright position and showing a strainer supported thereupon by means of the device shown in Figure 1.

In some states the law requires that milk and 35 cream cans be racked in inverted position so as to be thoroughly drained. and aerated when not in use. The present invention provides a rack for this purpose but which may also be used as a strainer support when the cream can is being filled.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the device is shown to comprise a pair of rings l0 and H formed of band metal and secured in superposed spaced relation by means of bars H which are preferably four in number and are riveted, as shown at l3, or otherwise rigidly secured to the rings at equally spaced distances apart. The rings have a common axis 50 and the ring I! is smaller in diameter than the ring l0 so that the device may be said to have generally a frusto-conical outline and thus a plurality of the devices may be nested one within the other to economize in storage space.

Two of the bars I2 diametrically opposite each other are provided with slots M. Each slotted bar is equipped with a leaf spring I5 which is rigidly secured at one end to the smaller ring I I by means of a rivet IE or other suitable connector. 60 The spring is directed to diverge from the associated bar l2 and then is directed parallel with the axis of the rings, and then is directed laterally through the slot i l and terminally rolled upon itself, as shown best in Figure 1. Both springs are adapted to engage underneath the flared mouth ll of the cylindrical neck 18 of a conventional cream can i9 when the device is placed down upon the cream can with the small ring ll supported by the dome-shaped top 20 of the can, as shown in Figure 3. When the device is thus placed upon the cream can the strainer it may be inserted in the mouth of the can and supported in operative position by the ring ID to fill the can.

However, if the can is empty the device may be applied just as described and the can with the device applied may be inverted and the large ring til may be set upon the floor to support the can in position to drain and aerate. A second can equipped with one of these racks may be inverted and superposed upon the first can and the vertical stack may be built as high as desired, in each instance the large ring It being supported upon the bottom 22 of the next can underneath as shown in Figure 2. The large ring Hi consequently is limited in diameter to the diameter of the base flange 23 of the conventional cream can bottom.

To remove the rack from the can, the can is turned right side up to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the operator may grip the rolled ends of the springs 15 and press the springs outwardly from the slots M to disengage them from the flared mouth ll of the can whereupon the rack may be bodily lifted from the can. The racks may be then stored in nested position, one within the other, as removed from the cans to economize in storage space.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

A cream rack and strainer support comprising superposed rings, bars connecting the rings together in coaxial relation, one of the rings being of smaller diameter than the other ring, a pair of the bars at diametrically opposite points of the rings being slotted, and springs secured to the bars below the slots and having the free ends deformed and extending through the slots, said springs being adapted to normally engage underneath the flared mouth of a cream can and prevent dislodgment of the support from the can, said support being adapted to secure a strainer in the mouth of the can in one position and when the can is inverted being adapted to form a rack upon which the can may drain and aerate.

HEZEKIAH J GRIFFITHS. 

